Labour MPs claimed that the Government was sneaking in major changes to the student loan scheme, it was claimed in
Parliament tonight.
The Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill completed its committee stage tonight and was reported with amendment with National, ACT, United Future, New Zealand
First, the Maori Party and Mana supporting.
Opposition to the bill mainly centred around the reduction in payment holidays from three years to one year, though
towards the end of the debate a number of Labour MPs claimed that a previously unnoticed clause was effectively and
retrospectively scrapping interest free loans.
Government ministers ignored the claims about the clause, which if correct meant the policy change was unannounced and
escaped notice during the parliamentary process.
MPs returned to the interrupted debate on the second reading of the Trade (Safeguard Measures) Bill.
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